The honour was presented to the garden, which showcased three parking space-sized areas that will all be relocated to Surrey’s streets, including Cranleigh, after the festival. They are: 

• The Cranleigh rain garden demonstrates sustainable drainage, utilising climate-resilient plants to manage stormwater and reduce flooding risks.  

• The Guildford Parklet celebrates biodiversity. It’s crafted from reclaimed materials and features pollinator-friendly plants, bird baths, and play elements to bring people and wildlife together.  

In comparison to the three gardens, a fourth zone features an electric car, demonstrating to visitors just how much can be achieved in the same amount of space. Electric vehicles do not produce the exhaust pipe emissions that contribute to climate change and poor air quality, so are a better way to travel when you need to use a car.  

Judges said it was ‘astonishingly clever’ to create a garden in such small public spaces. They said when you sit in the garden you feel cocooned in the street, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

The garden was also highly commended with an RHS Environmental Innovation award for its commitment to sustainable garden design. 

The parklets and rain gardens were funded through existing placemaking schemes in the three communities where the gardens will be relocated after the festival. Additional support for creating the garden came from volunteers, including local young people and community groups, as well as private sponsors.  

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Receiving the silver medal at one of the country’s best-known garden festivals is a real honour. It reflects the ambition for our towns and villages that Surrey County Council is showcasing this week. 

“The show garden demonstrates how we can provide a better balance between roads and pedestrians in our town centres and provide attractive and functional areas which will encourage people to visit, stay longer and support our vital local economies. 

“But they also show how local government, volunteers and the private sector can work together to design and create community spaces, offering vital training to our young people along the way. I would like to thank every person and organisation which has helped create these gardens which will be on the streets of Surrey in the coming weeks for everyone to enjoy.” 

The sponsors and volunteers who have contributed time, materials and expertise to bring the vision to life are: Guildford County School, Surrey Hills, AtkinsRealis, Meristem Design, Ringway, Surrey Youth Offer Service, Littlethorpe, Kathy Plank from Cranleigh, Milsetone, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Working in Charge, Youth Offer Development, Ash Youth Centre. 

Zoe Metcalfe, Client Director, Local and Central Government at AtkinsRéalis, said: “The opportunity to co-design this exhibit with Surrey County Council provides a real opportunity to demonstrate the importance of integrating green spaces in our streets and neighbourhoods. 

Cranleigh rain garden 

The Cranleigh rain garden turns a parking space into a sustainable green area that helps manage rainwater and reduce flooding. In urban areas, rainwater often has nowhere to go due to the extensive use of concrete and tarmac, which can lead to flooding and pollution. Rain gardens mimic natural drainage by soaking up rainwater, filtering out pollutants, and helping it slowly return to the ground. 

The garden features moisture-loving plants, such as sage and masterwort. Other plants, such as willow-leaved loosestrife and knotweed, can handle drier conditions once established. There’s also a birch tree that thrives in wet soil but can also cope with dry spells, adding height and shade to the garden. 

AtkinsRealis designed this garden and its planting selection in collaboration with Surrey County Council. Ringway and students from NESCOT helped build and will later take down the garden. 

The plants will be moved to rain gardens being built in Fountain Square, Cranleigh. The wooden stepping stones will go back to the council to be used in ‘play on the way’ schemes. The wooden log seating will be recycled, and the kerbs will be returned to Ringway for use in other schemes. 

Guildford Parklet 

The Guildford parklet uses reclaimed materials to transform a parking space into a vibrant area for birds, wildlife and people. There are planters with built-in seating providing a space for people to rest, socialise and interact with nature. A bird bath, made from an old highway sign, collects rainwater through bamboo tubes that also water the plants.  

A canopy has been created from a repurposed parachute to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.  A second canopy has been created by jasmine growing around a timber structure, creating resting spots for birds and wildlife.  

Deep red masterwort, sweet-smelling star jasmine, and sky-blue blooms from geraniums bring variety and vibrancy. Coral bells add warm tones with hot pink undersides, while Siberian bugloss (Jack Frost) shows off silver leaves with green veins. These are low-maintenance, help cover the ground, and attract bees and other pollinators. 

The initial design of this garden was created by volunteers from the Rosamund Community Garden, which was developed in collaboration with designers from Atkins Realis and Surrey County Council. Molly Klemova-White, alongside colleagues from Surrey County Council’s Youth Offer Team, helped to grow and advise on the planting. 

The Youth Offer Team guided young people in building benches, planters, and bird baths, providing them with hands-on experience. 

The garden will be relocated to Phoenix Court in Guildford, allowing visitors to enjoy tranquillity amidst the bustling town centre. Experience Guildford will help to organise the maintenance of the plants.